Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Fool Who Longed for Her
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ugh
Something cold and hard pressed against her cheek.
When Bella opened her eyes, she found herself collapsed on a stone floor.
Her head throbbed as if shed been struck in the back of the skull.
She must have lost consciousness for a moment.
Hmph?
Something like a gag filled her mouth.
She tried to sit up, but her body wouldnt obey.
Her hands and feet were bound with rope.
Only then did she remember that shed been captured.
Of course
She had run into lost Alice and spent time wandering the market to find her mother.
But there were far too many people.
Finding Alices mother in the middle of the teeming marketplace was no easy task.
Forgetting her own purpose for visiting the market, she searched every corner to reunite Alice with her mom.
That was when she wandered into a shady alley and found herself surrounded by thugs.
Truth be told, the thugs were no match for her.
Drawing her dagger for self-defense, Bella cut down each one who approached, rendering them powerless.
Slum ruffians could never hope to defeat someone trained in swordsmanship by a dukes household.
But they lacked skill, not wits.
Dont move! Or the kid wont make it out alive!
The man bleeding from his cheek had seized Alice as a hostage.
Taking a child hostage Arent you ashamed of yourselves?
Shut up, bitch! Drop the knife before we do something to the brat!
Fine.
In the end, Bella had no choice but to drop her dagger.
Seizing the moment, the thugs rushed her, kicking her to her knees.
At the same time, her hood fell back, revealing the face it had concealed.
The mens jaws dropped in unison.
Hey, this chicks a stunner.
Jackpot, huh? Heh heh.
All Bella could do was glare at them fiercely.
Then came the dull thud against the back of her head, and her consciousness faded.
And now.
Bella looked around.
Searching for the girl captured alongside her.
Soon, she noticed something warm beside her.
!
Alice lay next to Bella.
Her face was puffy from prolonged crying.
Breathing in ragged snores, Alice slept plastered against Bella.
Fortunately she didnt appear hurt.
Bella felt relieved.
But the situation was dire.
Captured by thugs and dragged to an unknown place, she was now restrained.
The mana flowing through her body wasnt circulating properly.
The bastards must have drugged her to suppress her magic.
Bella struggled to sit up.
She still didnt know their goal.
If she could learn something, maybe she could negotiate
That was when footsteps approached from beyond the door.
Creak.
Light seeped in through the opening door.
The first face to appear was the man who had held Alice hostage.
Spotting that Bella was awake, he grinned.
Hey there. Back with us, pretty thing?
Dont give me that glare. If youd just paid up nice and quiet, none of this wouldve happened, right?
Hey, when someone talks to you, at least answer Oh, right.
The man scratched his head vigorously, then removed the gag from Bellas mouth.
Sorry about that. Now you can talk, yeah?
Do you even know who I am to pull something like this?
Yeah, some high-and-mighty noble. Duke or count, whatever.
And thats supposed to mean nothing to you? Kidnapping a noble is a capital crime. You and everyone involved will be punished.
Puhahaha! You think we give a damn about the law, princess?
The man approached Bella.
His lecherous gaze roamed over her face.
Princess, youre top-shelf goods. Well fetch a high price selling you.
Shut your mouth So moneys the goal, huh? How much ransom?
Fifty billion kaels. Cash, of course.
What?
An absurd sum.
Bella looked up at him in disbelief.
You really think thats feasible?
Damn right. Totally realistic. You think wed let you go and sit pretty? Youd come hunting us. The fifty billion covers our escape to a foreign country too.
Sigh I swear I wont pursue you. No need to worry.
Yeah?
The man grabbed a fistful of Bellas hair.
What do we look like, idiots? You expect us to buy that? Even kids wouldnt fall for it. What kind of moron are you?
Thats not it.
His grip tightened on her silver hair.
Bullshit. Like hell it isnt, you bitch. See this?
He peeled back the gauze on his cheek.
Beneath was a fresh, gaping scar crusted with dried blood.
The man drew a knife and pressed it to Bellas face.
This is what your little slash got me. Want me to return the favor?
.
So, got fifty billion? Yes or no?
I dont have that kind of money
Hah, what kind of noble are you? Broke-ass bitch.
Bella bristled at that.
Do you even grasp how much fifty billion is? What noble in the empire could cough up that sum like its nothing?
She caught herself mid-sentence.
There was one noble who could pay such a fortune without batting an eye.
Misreading her expression, the man sneered.
Figured. Too poor to pay. Whatever. Selling you as a slavell net us a tidy sum anyway.
Sell me as a slave? You think buying a noble like me as a slave wont bring hell down on the buyer? Youd get caught in no time.
Oh, we know. Thats why were selling you abroad as a slave.
Abroad?
The country was in lockdown, cut off from foreign trade.
Knowing that, Bella had to ask.
The man bared his yellowed teeth in a grin.
Surprised? Were black market traders. Got connections outside the empireAljes or Pellic, you know. Ties to their rich elites, naturally.
Ugh.
The man seized her chin.
Put a proud beauty like you up for auction, and foreign noblesll go berserk bidding. Especially if youre highbornthey wont be able to resist. Theyll shell out tens of billions to make you their slave.
Let go
Hah, damn uppity bitch. Wonder how long you can keep that haughty act up Oh?
Smacking his lips, the man glanced down and spotted Alice asleep on Bellas lap.
His face lit up like hed found money on the floor.
Bellas gut twisted with dread.
Oh yeah, toss in the little brat too. Two for one.
Stop That childs done nothing wrong.
!..
.....
Now youre showing some expression. Too badwell do anything for a profit. Heh heh heh.
Staring at the thug, ironically, Bella thought of that man.
The one who believed money could buy anything.
Hed tried to buy her heart with cash.
Hed failed, but hed wanted to possess her entirely.
No one had desired her more.
What a foolish man
Tristan was different from the vulgar scum before her.
Vulgar, yet proud. Dignified.
And he knew when to back off gracefully.
Ah I wanted to see him one last time
Bella sighed.
When she heard Tristan was injured, shed asked Blanche to pass on her regards.
In truth, her pride wouldnt let her visit him herself, despite wanting to see his face.
That foolish pride Now she realized shed never see him again.
The scarred thug stood.
Hey, why hasnt boss shown up?
Huh? One of the kids went to fetch him a bit ago. Should be any minute
That man wont come.
A parched voice cut into their ears.
What a wretched den
W-What the?
How the hell did you find this place?! Who are you?!
The man before them wore a black coat.
Obsidian-black hair, slightly plump face.
That face regarded them with haughty disdain.
And Bella knew him well.
Dont breathe in my presence, you lowly scum.